Cigar mouthpiece feed



5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. IA

v. G. HANSON CIGAR MOUTHPIECE FEED June 23, 1959 Filed May 2, 1955 ATTORNEY v INVENTOR VICTOR G. HANSON v. a. HANSON CIGAR MOUTHPIECE FEED June 23, 1959 Filed May 2, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1959 v. G. HANSON 2,891,557

CIGAR MOUTHPIECE FEED Filed May 2, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v A FIG 4A INVENTOR VICTOR G. HANSON 5 sheets-sheet 5 June 23, 1959' .v. G. HANSON CIGAR MOUTHPIECE FEED Filed May 2, 1955 United States Patent CIGAR MOUTHPJEQE Victor G. Hanson, Brooklyn, N;Y-'. assignor to International Cigar Machinery'Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May- ,2, 1955; Serial-No. 505,395

'13 Claims. (Cl; 131-88);

This invention relates .to the handling and applying of mouthpiece tips to smoking articles.

It is an object of this invention-to'devise': a. novel hop:- per: mouthpiece. orienting and feed: means; operating in conjunction with a structure for applying mouthpiece tipsto a cigar-bunch in timed cycle with existingimachines withoutatfecting: the speed thereof;

It is a further object of my invention tooperate: such a means from a cigar machine.

It is still another object. of my invention to construct a novel'feed and applying device taking its motionfrom a source of motion already present on conventional cigar machines.

It is a further object of my invention to combine a feed means and orienting'means with an. applyingmea-ns in a single device.

The novel features which I believe tobecharacteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be understood by reference to the apparatus embodying my invention and shown in the accompanying drawings in which I illustrate:

Figs. 1 and 1A when joined atlineA-A. illustrate a side elevation of the cigar mouthpiece feed'apparatus;

Fig; 2 is a detailed plan view-of'thetip orienting mechanism taken on line 2-2 of Fig; 4;

Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the orienting chute taken on line 3-3 of'Fi'g. 4;

Figs. 4 and 4A when joined at line B-B' illustrate an end elevation partly in section of the mouthpiece feed apparatus;

Fig, 5' is a sectional plan view illustrating the mouthpiece orienting device;

Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, illustrate successive steps of operation of the cigar tip orienting device;

The cigar mouthpiece M used in connection with the feeding apparatus described below may be of the type which are placed over the end of a cigarbunch before the wrapper is applied. The mouthpieces are deposited in a suitably shapedhopper H (Figs. 1 and4)' which has a slanted bottom wall 10 and a vertical front wall 12 designed for the purpose of concentrating the mouthpiece at the bottom of said hopperwithin a narrow strip from which theymay be'delivered' into asuitable chute 14' secured to a frame member 16; An oscillating refuser sector 18 is positioned at the bottom of said narrow strip of said hopper and adjacent the chute 14'.

Sector 18 is mounted on av shaft 20 actuated by means of an arm 22 (Figs; 1 and 4)' whose free end is connected by a link 24 to a member 26 which is: secured to a vertical guide rod 28 slidably supported in suitable bearings on the frame bracket 16'. To' member 26 is also mounted a vertical agitatorplate' 30*which partially protrudes through the bottom, strip of the hopper H. Member 26' on its free end is provided with a forked portion 32 which engages opposed flat surfaces 34 of anice 2 other vertical guide rod 3.6;:securedto. the frame-member 16. A. link 38 connects member; 26; to the free end.- of 40'pivotally mounted .on a :stud. 42 :held by frame hracketrlfi. Arm: 4.0 byxmeans of a connecting rod 44 is connected to a lever-46 mountedzon shaft 48 supported by a suitable bearing of theframe base 50 towhichlthe frame bracket 16 is secured.

To shaft 48 is. also. secureda: cam lever 52 carrying a camroller 54' which. engages. Withi'fl. camv 56: mounted on thecam shaft 56. Cam 58. through the arms'andlinkagesdescribed above: effects; an oscillatingmotion of the refuser sector 18 as well .astvertica'l reciprocation of agitator plate 30; The operation. is. such that when the refuser" sector 18 is inits uppermost position the agitator plate30 w-i1l be in its downmost. position, thusprevente ing' an obstruction to theflow of the mouthpieces towards' the refuser sector-and permitting the mouthpieces toalign themselves with the- V-shaped'groove 19 of the refuser sector 18. The agitator plate 30' tends to align the mouthpiece tips with the chute 14 and to loosen jams, while the refuser' sector both aligns the tips and admits them oneby one into chute 14 from the bottom of the hopper strip. As may be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 4, the depth andwidth of the groove 19 of refuser sector 18' will permit" the passage of a single mouthpiece ti'p only, and that'in alignment with thechute 14. The refuser sector oscillates sufiicientlyto aid in passing a mouthpiece along the chute 14 without exceeding the degreesof'arc. of the sector itself. Itwill be noted that the circumferential groove 19 actually engages a mouths piece with some pressure. Thus", whenthe sector o'scil latesagainst the direction of'flow, it'will refuse-a mouthpiece; and on itsreverse oscillation, in the direction of flow, will tend to urge-themouthpiece'downwardly'along the chute 14. If themouthpiece faces substantial obstruction, such as when thechute 14 is filled with other mouthpieces, the sector'will merely slide over the mouthpiece. It should be borne in mindthat the mouthpieces apparently have some resiliency.

The mouthpieces gravitate down the inclined chute 14 toa stop pin 60 which projects into the chute'froman arm 62 mounted on a shaft- 64 supported" by suitable hearings in the frame-bracket 1'6.- Shaft 64 has a control arm 66 whose free end by means of a link 68 is con nected'to the free end of a cam lever-70 having a cam roller 72engaginga= cam 74 mounted on the cam shaft 58; Cam-74 through cam roller 70 and the linkage connectedtherewith actuates arm 62 and the stop pin 60 in a manner to allow the mouthpiece on the bottom of the chute to slide from thechute14 into a cradle- 76'; The remaining mouthpieces in chute 14 are'held back by a finger -78 so onlyone mouthpiece reaches the-cradle 763 The clamping finger '78 (-Fig. l") is pivoted toa stud shaft 80'and is provided with a' contactarmsz carrying on itsfree' end a set screw 84 which isin contact with the arm 66; Clamping'finger'78isals'o provided'with a bell crank lever' extension 86 Whose freeend is' connected to a; tension spring 88 anchored ona pin 90 held'by'the frame member 16. It is apparent that as the stop pin 60 isretracted from chute 14 by clockwise rotation of arm 66 (Fig. 1,), finger 78 isperm'itt'edto enter the chute 1'4 to clamp the mouthpiecesecond in line.

Bellcrank; extension 86" also carries a suitable set screw 92. which will depress a suitableimicro'switch 9'4" when the chute; is empty; The micro switch92t, of course; may. be: connected to a warningsyst'emior power cut-70E for the machine.

The cradle'76 (Figs; 1*, 2, 4", 6,17, 8" and 9')" ispivota'll'y mounted" on a stud shaft 96 held by the frame member 16. The cradle 76. is also". provided with" a lug 98 connected by a link 100' to'a'n arrn 1"02" mounted on a= shaft 104 supported in a suitable bearing of the frame bracket aeenes'r a 16. Shaft 104 has another arm 1% which by means of a link 108 is connected to a bell crank shaped cam lever 110 carrying a cam roller 112 engaging with a cam 114 mounted on the cam shaft 58. Cam 114 through cam lever 110 and the linkage described above tilts the cradle into a horizontal as well as an upward and a downward angle for the endwise orientation of the mouthpiece. When the cradle is in the upward angle or receiving position as shown in Fig. 6, it is aligned with the inclined chute 14 so that the mouthpiece M just released by stop pin 6'!) slides into the cradle 76 where it is arrested by an angular lug 116 on a reciprocating orienting member 118 which at that moment is adjacent the lowermost end of the upwardly angled cradle 76. Accurate alignment of cradle 76 with chute 14 is secured by a stop screw 77 secured in a plate 79 on the frame 16.

After the mouthpiece M is seated in the cradle, the latter, by means of the cam and linkage already described, is brought to a horizontal position and the reciprocating and orienting member 118 moves horizontally in such a manner that a feeler pin 120 mounted on the member 113 advances towards one end of the mouthpiece M resting in the cradle. The reciprocating orienting member 118 is supported by a pair of parallel links 119, 121 pivotally mounted to studs 123 and 127, respectively. Link 121 is mounted on or integral with a hub of an arm 129 whose free end is connected by link 131 to a bell crank shaft cam lever 133 which carries a cam roller 135 engaging a cam 137 on shaft 58. Cam levers 70, 110 and 133 are loosely supported on the cam lever supporting shaft 48 held by a bracket 141 to the inner wall of the frame base 50. If the mouthpiece M rests in the cradle with its mouth end towards the advancing pin 120, the pin will contact and push the mouthpiece from the cradle into a funnel 122 as illustrated in Fig. 7.

If, however, the mouthpiece should rest in the cradle with its bunch end toward the advancing feeler pin 120, the pin merely enters the large hole at said bunch end and will not effect any movement of the mouthpiece in the cradle as shown in Fig. 8. Then after the return stroke of member 118 and after the pin 120 is retracted, the cradle is tilted in a downward position as shown in Fig. 9 depositing the mouthpiece in the funnel 124. It will be observed that in either case the mouthpiece tip falls bunch end first into one of the chutes or funnels 122, 124. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, both funnels join in a common duct 125 leading to an angularly arranged chute 126.

The delivery from the duct 125 into the angular chute 126 is accurately timed by a suitably shaped stop finger 128 mounted on a shaft 130 supported in a suitable bearing of the frame bracket 16. To shaft 130 is secured a lug 132 carrying a pin 134 whose free end engages a forked member 136 mounted on the link 68 operating the mouthpiece release control in chute 14 already described. Thus stop hook 128 releases its mouthpiece at the same time that the mouthpiece in chute 14 is released.

The mouthpiece is then forwarded towards the bunch in the mold turret machine and applied to said bunches by means of a reciprocating plunger 140. The plunger is actuated by means of an arm 142 pivotally supported by a stud 144 held by the base 50. Arm 142 carries a cam roller 146 which engages with a suitable cam 148 mounted on the cam shaft 58. The latter is continuously driven by means of a gear 150 meshing with a gear 152 driven by a gear 154 mounted on a shaft 156 pro jecting from the housing 158 which contains the driving mechanism for said shaft in connection with the driving mechanism of the mold turret mechanism or machine described and illustrated in patent to Neumair, 2,633,135.

In order to allow sufficient time for the arrival of the cigar bunches to the mouthpiece applying station during the start-up period of the cigar machine, feeding of the mouthpieces may be prevented by turning eccentric spring-mounted knob 166 which will effect an engagement of lock pin with the bottom edge of arm 62 to hold arm 62 upward and consequently keep stop pin 60 in the path of the mouthpieces in chute 14.

I claim:

1. A mechanism suitable for attachment to a cigar machine comprising a hopper for holding a supply of mouthpieces, an inclined member in said hopper operative to guide said mouthpieces to one portion of said hopper, a downwardly inclined chute leading from said portion of said hopper constructed and arranged to receive mouthpieces in longitudinal alignment, a cradle at the bottom of said chute positioned to receive a single mouthpiece delivered from the bottom end of said chute, said mouthpiece being longitudinally aligned but in random endwise orientation, a detecting member movable across said chute toward the end of said mouthpiece tip, said detecting member positioned to contact one end only of said mouthpiece tip, said member moving a sufficient distance to push the mouthpiece tip 011 one end of said cradle upon contact with said contactable end and said detecting member being inoperative to move said mouthpiece tip when said other end of said mouthpiece is presented to it, said cradle being tippable from the horizontal in a direction to dump a mouthpiece tip held thereon from the opposite end of said cradle, a receiving chute at each of said two ends of said cradle to receive mouthpiece tips dumped from said respective end, said chute converging to form a single chute combining mouthpieces oriented end for end, and a finger at the end of said chute movable to deliver oriented mouthpieces one by one.

2. A device suitable for attachment to a cigar making machine, a hopper for holding a supply of mouthpiece tips, a chute leading from said hopper and suitably constructed to deliver mouthpieces in longitudinal alignment therethrough, agitating means in said hopper adjacent the receiving end of said chute, said agitating means comprising a vertically reciprocating member to break up jams of said mouthpiece tips occurring at the mouth of said tubular chute, and an oscillating sector oscillating to urge mouthpiece tips into longitudinal alignment and into said chute to engage mouthpiece tips and move them into said chute, said sector having a grooved circumferential face, a movable stop member near the delivery end of said chute to control the delivery of mouthpiece tips from said chute, a second stop member constructed and arranged to engage the mouthpiece next in line to the mouthpiece arrested by said first stop member, a single drive shaft operatively connected to said movable and said second stop members, said vertically reciprocating break-up memher and said oscillating sector for operation from a single drive means, said second-named stop member being in stopping position when said first-named movable stop member is in inoperative position to permit the delivery of mouthpiece tips from said chute one by one in a predetermined controllable time cycle.

3. A device such as claimed in claim 2, further characterized by an orienting mechanism at the delivery and of said chute, said orienting mechanism comprising a rockable cradle to receive a mouthpiece delivered from said chute, detecting means movable across said cradle operable to contact one end only of said mouthpiece tip and to move said mouthpiece tip when contacted off one end of said cradle, drive means operable to rock said cradle from the horizontal to deliver a mouthpiece tip thereon 011 the other end of said cradle. a receiving channel positioned at each end of said cradle to receive mouthpiece tips therefrom, said receiving channels converging to form a single channel for delivering oriented mouthpiece tips, and means to move said detecting member and to rock said rockable cradle whereby mouthpiece tips delivered from said chute are oriented with respect to a predetermined end of said mouthpiece tips for delivery from said single channel.

4. A device such as claimed in claim 3, further charac ass sts te'rized by a movable arresting member in said single channel, said moving arresting member being operatively movable from arresting position to non-arresting position in timed cycle with said orienting mechanism to control the delivery of mouthpiece tips therefrom.

5. A device suitable for attachment to a cigar machine for delivering elongated mouthpiece tips of the type having a tapered bore relatively large at the bunch end of the mouthpiece tip and relatively small at the mouthpiece end, a hopper having a slanted bottom for holding a supply of mouthpiece tips, means to deliver mouthpiece tips one by one from said hopper, said means including a chute leading from said hopper adjacent the bottom of the slant of said slanted bottom, amoving member to agitate mouthpiece tips adjacent said chute, an oscillating memher having an end face portion oscillating to and fro in a plane longitudinal to said chute, said end face having a groove to engage the sides of said mouthpieces to guide them into longitudinal alignment with said chute and move them into said chute, a rocka'ble cradle positioned beneath said chute to receive said mouthpiece tips, said cradle being concave to hold said mouthpiece tips longitudinally oriented, the ends of said cradle being open, at detecting pin mounted to move a predetermined distance along said cradle from one end thereof, means for advancing and retracting said pin said distance, said pin being constructed and arranged so that in a random position of said mouthpiece tip on said cradle presenting the bunch end toward said advancing pin said pin will enter said relatively large bore and not engage said mouthpiece tip, and in the opposite random position of said mouthpiece tip will not enter said relatively small bore and will engage said mouthpiece tip, the travel of said pin along said cradle said predetermined distance, said :pin being sufficient to drop a mouthpiece engaged by said pin off one open end of said cradle, then retracting and said cradle rocking to discharge a mouthpiece not so engaged from said other end of said cradle, a pair of chutes positioned respectively at each end of said cradle to receive a mouthpiece dropped therefrom bunch end first, said pair of chutes converging to form a single chute to maintain the bunch end first orientation of a mouthpiece tip delivered from said cradle and said pair of chutes whereby oriented mouthpieces may be delivered from said hopper.

6. A mouthpiece tip feed device, a hopper to support a plurality of mouthpiece tips of the type differentiated end for end by having a single communicating bore relatively large at one bunch end and relatively small at one mouth end, a delivery channel leading from said hopper constructed and arranged to maintain mouthpiece tips in single file therein, agitating means in said hopper to urge mouthpiece tips into said channel, a cradle rockably mounted beneath the end of said channel, gate means in said channel to control the delivery of mouthpiece tips one by one therefrom, said cradle being constructed and arranged to longitudinally align a mouthpiece tip thereon, said cradle having two oppositely positioned open ends to drop mouthpiece tips therefrom, a detecting 'pin mounted to move along said cradle, mechanism to move said pin to and fro along said cradle, said detecting pin being constructed and arranged to enter said large'bore of said bunch end of said mouthpiece tip not contacting said mouthpiece tip when said mouthpiece tip is longitudinally arranged with said bunch end at random position toward said detecting pin, said pin being sufiiciently large to prevent its entering said bore at said mouth'end of 'said mouthpiece tip and to contact said mouthpiece tip when said mouth end is in random position toward said detecting pin, said detecting pin moving sufliciently to push a mouthpiece tip contacted thereby through one open end of said cradle, said pin then retracting and said cradle rocking to discharge a mouthpiece tip from said opposite end opening, a pair of chutes arranged respectively beneath each end of said cradle to receive mouthpiece tips bunch end first therefrom, said chutes converging to form a single converging chute, and

6 gate means on said single chute operating to discharge mouthpiece tips one by one therefrom in timed sequence.

7. A mouthpiece tip feed device suitable for attachment to a cigar machine, a hopper to support a plurality of mouthpiece tips of the type differentiated end for end by having a single communicating bore relatively large at one bunch end and relatively small at one mouth end, a delivery channel leading from said hopper constructed and arranged to maintain mouthpiece tips in single file therein, agitating means in said hopper to urge mouthpiece tips into said channel, a cradle rockably mounted beneath the end of said channel, gate means in said channel to control the delivery of mouthpiece tips one by one therefrom, said cradle being constructed and arranged to longitudinally align a mouthpiece tip thereon, said cradle having two oppositely positioned open ends to drop mouthpiece tips therefrom, a detecting pin mounted to move along said cradle, mechanism to move said pin to and fro along said cradle, said detecting pin being constructed and arranged to enter said large bore of said bunch end of said mouthpiece tip not contacting said mouthpiece tip when said mouthpiece tip is longitudinally arranged with said buch end at random position toward said detecting pin, said pin being sufficiently large to prevent its entering said bore at said mouth end of said mouthpiece tip and to contact said mouthpiece tip when said month end is in random position toward said detecting pin, said detecting pin moving sufiiciently to push a mouthpiece tip contacted thereby through one open end of said cradle, said pin then retracting, and devices to rock said cradle to discharge a mouthpiece tip from said opposite end opening, a pair of chutes arranged respectively beneath each end of said cradle to receive mouthpiece tips bunch end first therefrom, said chutes converging to form a single converging chute, gate means on said single chute operating to discharge mouthpiece tips one by one therefrom in a time sequence, and instrumentalities connectable to a cigar machine and operable therefrom to operate said agitating means in said hopper, said gate means, said detecting pin, and said cradle in timed relation to said cigar machine.

8. An aligning means to deliver cylindrical objects in longitudinal alignment with asource of supply, said aligning means comprising an inclined chute from said source of supply and an oscillating sector adjacent the receiving end of said chute, said sector having a circumferential groove formed in its peripheral face and said sector oscillating in a direction longitudinal with said chute to align and urge said cylindrical objects into said chute in longitudinal alignment.

9. A device suitable for'attachmen't to a cigar machine for delivering mouthpiece tips to cigar bunches during formation of the cigar in said machine, said mouthpiece tips being formed as elongated members having a tapered central bore, said bore being relatively large at the bunch end of the mouthpiece tips and relatively small at the mouthpiece end, a hopper serving as a source of supply of said mouthpiece tips, said hopper having an inclined bottom portion so that said mouthpiece tips will be gravity urged to a delivery area in said hopper, a chute leading from said area of said hopper and being constructed and arranged to guide mouthpieces in tandem longitudinal alignment, an oscillating member adjacent the receiving portion of said chute in said hopper, said oscillating memher having a grooved face in alignment with said chute and said member oscillating in alignment with said groove so that said groove may engage the outside of a mouthpiece tip and urge it in longitudinal alignment and into said chute, an arresting member in said chute alternately movable to a non-arresting position to permit mouthpiece tips to be delivered one by one from said chute, a cradle beneath said chute to receive said mouthpiece tips one by one, and means to detect a predetermined end of said mouthpiece tips on said cradle to deliver mouthpiece tips from said cradle.

10. In a device suitable for attachment to a cigar machine for delivering oriented mouthpiece tips thereto, a unitary cam shaft operative to be driven from a single source of power, at least one cam on said cam shaft, said device further comprising a source of supply of mouthpiece tips, an inclined chute to deliver aligned mouthpiece tips from said source, a movable arresting means adjacent the delivery end of said chute to control the delivery of mouthpiece tips therefrom, said arresting means being operatively connected to a cam on said cam shaft to move from an arresting to a non-arresting position, a rocking orienting cradle positioned at the delivery end of said chute to receive one mouthpiece tip delivered by said arresting means in timed cycle with said cam shaft, detecting means at said cradle to drop a mouthpiece tip having a predetermined orientation from one end of said cradle, said cradle being rockable to drop a mouthpiece tip from the opposite end of said cradle, said detecting means being operatively connected to a cam on said cam shaft, a receiv ing channel positioned at each end of said cradle to receive a a mouthpiece tip with a predetermined end first from said cradle, said channels converging to form a single delivery chute, a horizontal reciprocating plunger positioned at the bottom of said delivery channel to receive the mouthpiece tips therefrom during the rearward position of said plunger to deliver said mouthpiece tip forward in a feeding motion, said plunger being operative from a cam on said cam shaft, whereby said entire mechanism is operative from said cam shaft, and said arresting means, said orienting means and said plunger operate in predetermined time relation to each other.

11. A mouthpiece tip orienting and feeding device having a single drive shaft operative to be driven by a unitary source of power, said device having a source of supply of mouthpiece tips, an inclined chute to deliver aligned mouthpiece tips from said source, movable arresting means adjacent the delivery end of said chute to control the delivery of said mouthpiece tips therefrom, said arresting means being operatively connected to said drive shaft to move from an arresting to a non-arresting position in time sequence therewith, a rocking orienting cradle positioned at the delivery end of said chute to receive one mouthpiece tip delivered by said arresting means in timed cycle with said drive shaft, detecting means at said cradle to drop a mouthpiece tip having a predetermined orientation from one end of said cradle, mechanism operative to drop a mouthpiece tip from the opposite end of said cradle, said mechanism being operatively connected to said drive shaft, a receiving channel positioned at each end of said cradle to receive a mouthpiece tip with a predetermined end first from said cradle, said channels converging to form a single chan nel, a horizontal reciprocating plunger positioned at the bottom of said channel to receive a mouthpiece tip there from during the rearward position of said plunger to feed forward said mouthpiece tip in a motion suitable to apply it to a cigar bunch during the forward position of said plunger, said plunger being operatively connected to said drive shaft whereby said entire mechanism is operative from said drive shaft and said arresting means and said plunger operate in said predetermined time relation to each other.

12. In a device for feeding oriented mouthpiece tips from a random source of Supply, a hopper to support a plurality of mouthpiece tips which are differentiated end for end by having a single communicating bore relatively large at one bunch end and relatively small at one month end, a delivery channel leading from said hopper constructed and arranged to align mouthpiece tips in single file therealong, agitating means in said hopper to urge mouthpiece tips into said channel, said agitating means comprising a vertically reciprocating plate and an oscillating sector, said sector having a peripheral groove to engage the periphery of the mouthpiece and urge it longitudinally into said channel, a cradle rockably mounted beneath said channel, gate means in said channel to control the delivery of mouthpiece tips one by one therefrom, said cradle being constructed and arranged to longitudinally align a mouthpiece tip therein, said cradle having two oppositely positioned open ends to drop mouthpiece tips therefrom, a detecting pin mounted to move along said cradle, means to move and retract said pin along said cradle, said detecting pin being constructed and arranged to enter said bore of said bunch end of said mouthpiece tip not contacting said mouthpiece tip when said mouthpiece tip is longitudinally arranged with said bunch end at random position toward said detecting pin, said detecting pin being sufliciently large to prevent its entering said bore at said mouth of said mouthpiece tip and to contact said mouthpiece tip when said mouth end is in randon position toward said detecting pin, said detecting pin moving sulficiently toward one end of said cradle, to push a tip randomly contacted off said end, said pin then retracting and a device to rock said cradle to discharge a mouthpiece tip from said opposite end, a pair of chutes arranged respectively beneath each end of said cradle to receive mouthpiece tips bunch end first therefrom, said chutes converging to form a single chute, gate means on said chute operating to discharge mouthpiece tips one by one therefrom in timed sequence, where by mouthpiece tips may be delivered one by one and aligned in end for end orientation.

13. A device for aligning, orienting and feeding mouthpiece tips from a random source, comprising a hopper constructed and arranged to support said random source, agitating means in said hopper to align and deliver mouthpiece tips therefrom, a chute leading from said hopper to support mouthpiece tips in aligned position, a rocking cradle at the bottom of said chute to receive said mouthpiece tips, detecting means constructed and arranged to detect one end only of said mouthpiece tips to move a detector mouthpiece tip from one end of said cradle, said cradle being rockable from the horizontal to deliver other mouthpiece tips from the other end of said cradle, converging channels to receive mouthpiece tips from the ends of said cradle in predetermined end for end orientation, and other means to deliver mouthpiece tips beyond the point of convergence of said converging channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 811,396 Heinrich Jan. 30, 1906 1,195,571 Flaherty Aug. 22, 1916 1,334,326 Strane Mar. 23, 1920 1,829,454 Pride Oct. 27, 1931 1,830,446 Schunemann Nov. 3, 1931 1,924,993 Kayner Aug. 29, 1933 2,073,964 Foss Mar. 16, 1937 2,146,490 Toolan Feb. 7, 1939 2,244,142 Clausen June 3, 1941 2,264,105 White Nov. 25, 1941 2,545,888 Louden Mar. 20, 1951 2,633,135 Neumair Mar. 31, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 119,053 Austria Sept. 25, 1930 524,154 Germany May 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF C0 EQTION Patent No 2,391,557 I June 23, 1959 Victor G Hanson It is hereby certified that error appears in the -printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, lines 42 and 43, strike out "to engage mouthpiece tips and move them into said chute? and insert the: same after the Word "face" and before the comma in column 4, line 43 Signed and sealed this 12th day of April 1960,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Hn AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

